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Two recent photos of the preparation and casting for the GMT Mirror 5 at the Richard F. Carris Mirror Lab.

Giant Magellan Telescope Mirror #5 Casting Begins

The process of casting the Giant Magellan Telescope Mirror Number 5 has begun. This is another 8.4 meter off-axis mirror, joining 3 such already cast, plus the central on-axis mirror. For an update on the status of the previous mirrors you can click HERE.

Glass has been loaded, the oven closed, and heating begun (you can see a time lapse video HERE on Youtube). You can follow the casting HERE. The current schedule is: Friday, November 3, 2017, 22:00 MST, Furnace starts turning (750 C); 23:00 MST Furnace rotating at 4.8 RPM (762 C); Saturday, November 4, 2017, 02:00 MST, Noticeable glass softening (810 C); 04:30 MST Glass blocks slumping (850 C); 07:00 MST Glass melting (900 C); 12:30 MST Smoothing of glass surface (980 C); 17:00 MST Glass clear (1070 C); 20:40 MST Maximum Temperature (1165 C); Sunday, November 5, 2017, 01:08 MST Start cooling (1165 C). You can see additional photos at the GMT website HERE. The UA press release is HERE.

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